Re: Files not displayed in 'old' my documents folder

Luca007 wrote:
I am looking for files which existed before I re-installed XP. The files however, were those contained in the 'My Documents' folders and sub-folders for the original 'user' that came with the computer pre-installed.
I have looked in each 'Documents and Settings' folder and sub-folders and cannot find any of my original files.
As I said, I believe they still exist on the disk as the disk is half full (and these files were the large majority of those that existed pre- re-install).

"Carl F" wrote:

Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM wrote:
"Luca007" <Luca007@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:04229F1D-26A5-4F8D-8E30-F49F3C11C7BB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am running Windows XP Home SP2, which was pre-loaded on the machine when I
bought it.
A short while ago I was having a lot of corruption on my hard disk and
Windows would crash and then on re-boot go through chkdsk.
To overcome this, I was advised to reload Windows, which I did.

My problem is that now, I cannot display files that were in the original my
documents folder.
I used to have a default account on the machine and never set up my own
personal account. I stored many Gb's of music, videos, pictures, etc in that
accounts 'my documents' folder.
When I reloaded Windows this time, I was asked to create an account which I
did, ie, Dave.
Now, when I try to find those original files, I cannot. I know they are
still there as my hard disk is half full (there aren't any other files to
talk of on the disk).
I have only used Windows Explorer to look for them, but it doesn't find them.

My question is this:- Is there a way of 'finding' these files and moving
them to my personal 'my documents' area?

Under C:\Documents and settings each user has a folder named My Documents. Look in each of them and their sub-folders.

Are you looking for files which existed before you re-installed xp?
If you are and these files were in C: (windows) subfolder, they were probably erased when you re-installed xp.
If you did not save then to another place (another drive, CD or DVD)
they are probably gone forever. Backup! Backup! Backup! is the first rule of computing.

Carl F

Carl F


If the files were originally installed by the maker of the PC and you use a maker provided disk to re-install they would likely be installed in their original location. If you re-installed with a Microsoft disk and the files are original Microsoft files it is likely they would be re-installed in their original location. If they are files you created since receiving the PC and did not save them, they are gone. The C: disk (partition) is completely re-written by a re-install. Otherwise, if you know a file name or names use search to find them.
.

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